OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic value of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as opposed to Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) of Chlamydia trachomatis in cervices of women with genital tract infection. METHODS: Sixty three samples (60 cervical samples and 3 pelvic abscess samples) from sixty women with genital tract infection or lesions such as vaginits, cervicitis, cervical intraepithelial neoplasm (CIN), condyloma accuminata, tuboovarian abscess, preterm labor and premature repture of membranes were tested for Chlamydia trachomatis with PCR and EIA simultaneously. The primers for PCR were for 478 base pairs encoding Chlamydia cryptic plasmid gene RESULTS: Six cases (seven samples) (10%) out of 60 women were positive on PCR while one case (1.7%) was positive on EIA among these women. The positive rate of PCR Chlamydia test according to the diagnosis was as followings; 3 out of 19 cases (15.8%) of cervicitis, 2 out of 5 cases (40%) of CIN, 1 out of 3 cases (33.3%), ol tuboovarian abscess and 1 out of 7 cases (14, 3%) of preterm premature rupture of membranes showed positive Chlamydia test. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnostic testing of Chlamydia using PCR showed more sensitive for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis compared with EIA in women with genital tract infection. So Chlamydia PCR test is suggested to be valuable in appropriate treatment and prevention of Chlamydia infection especially in women with cervical lesions and pelvic inflammatory disease.
Abscess ; Base Pairing ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; Chlamydia Infections ; Chlamydia trachomatis* ; Chlamydia* ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Membranes ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease ; Plasmids ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Pregnancy ; Reproductive Tract Infections ; Rupture ; Uterine Cervicitis

No abstract available.
Female ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced* ; Iron* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy*

No abstract available.
Chorion* ; Chorionic Gonadotropin* ; Female ; Humans ; Laparotomy* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Tubal*

OBJECTIVE: To assess the correlation of erythropoietin(EPO) levels and number of nucleated erythrocytes(NRBC) with measurements of blood gases and to investigate the obstetrical factors influencing the levels of EPO and number of NRBC in umbilical venous blood of non asphyxiated neonates. METHODS: Measurements of EPO levels by RIA, number of NRBC per 100 white blood cells(WBC) by blood smear and measurement blood gases were performed at delivery in umbilical venous blood from 117 cases of neonates with gestational age ranged from 29 to 42 weeks, including 77 cases of non-asphyxia and 40 cases of asphyxia. Statistcial analysis included Student's t test, linear regression and linear correlation using SPSS 7.0 version statistical package. RESULTS: The umbilical venous EPO level is correlated significantly with the number of NRBC (r2 =0.204, p<0.05). The level of EPO as well as the number of NRBC showed inverse correlation with umbilical venous pH(r=-0.223, P<0.05 ; r=-0.896, p<0.05). Number of NRBC showed correlation with pCO2 (r=0.700, P<0.01) and base deficit (r=0.316, p<0.01). The mean level of EPO in non-asphyxiated neonates was 26.2 +/-16.1 mIU/mL showing correlation with gestational age and birth weight and higher level in neonates delivered vaginally than those delivered by elective cesarean section (27.1+/-17.0 vs 18.8+/-6.7 mIU/mL, p=0.012). The mean number of NRBC in non-asphyxiated neonates was 2.5+/-2.1/100 wbc showing no difference according to mode of delivery, gestational age and birth weight. CONCLUSION: Number of NRBC not only correlated with cord gas parameters more strongly but also was less influenced by the obstetrical factors than EPO level.
Asphyxia ; Birth Weight ; Cesarean Section ; Erythroblasts* ; Erythropoietin* ; Female ; Gases* ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Linear Models ; Pregnancy

No abstract available.
Intussusception*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate alterations of regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebrovascular reserve (CVR), and correlation between these alternations and cognitive dysfunction in patients with chronic traumatic brain injury (TRI) and normal brain MRI findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty TBI patients and 19 healthy volunteers underwen1 rest/acerazolamide brain SPECT using Tc-99m HMPAO. Korean-Wechsler Adult Intelligence scale test was also performed in the patient group. Statistical analysis was performed with statistical parametric mapping software (SPM97), RESULTS: CBF was diminished in the left hemisphere including Wernicke's area in all patients with lower verbal scale scores. In addition, a reduction in CBF in the right frontal, temporal and parietal cortices was related with depressed scores in information, digital span, arithmetic and similarities, In patients with lower performance scale scores. CBF was mainly diminished in the right hemisphere including superior temporal and supramarginal gyri, premotor, primary somatomotor and a port of prefrontal cortices, left frontal lobe and supramarginal gyrus. CVR was diminished in sixty-four Brodmann's areas compared to control. A reduction in CVR was demonstrated bilaterally in the frontal and temporal Iobes in patients with lower scores in both verbal and performance tests, and in addition, both inferior parietal and occipital lobes in information subset. CONCLUSION: Alterations of CBF and CVR were demonstrated in the symptomatic TBI patients with normal MRI finding. These alterations were correlated with the change of intelligence, of which the complex functions are subserved by multiple interconnected cortical structures.
Adult ; Brain ; Brain Injuries* ; Frontal Lobe ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Intelligence* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Occipital Lobe ; Rabeprazole ; Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Erythropoietin*

No abstract available.
C-Reactive Protein* ; Female ; Obstetric Labor, Premature* ; Pregnancy

Reconstruction of cruciate ligament has been controversial. Autogenous grafts has been used with inconsistent success rates due to their variable strength and limited length. If any autograft could cover such drawbacks it could surpass the advantage of artificial ligaments also. Recently, we used partial Achilles tendon autograft in reconstructive operation of anterior cruciate ligament with promising result. The main advantages of this Achilles tendon autograft are its sufficient length and strength. Preliminary study was done in 11 patients who received reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament using partial Achilles tendon autograft. The results were as followings :l. Anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions were done in 11 patients, with follow-ups ranging from 5 to 12 months, average being 8 months. 2. Average preoperative knee score was 49.1, and it was improved up to 87.4 after operation. 3. Among the 11 patients, 6 belonged to the Excellent, 4 to good, and 1 to fair. 4. Achilles tendon autograft turned out to be a good autograft substitute for the anterior crucate deficient knee. The results were promising. Long-term follow-up is needed to confirm the final status of the operated knee.
Achilles Tendon ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament ; Autografts ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Knee ; Ligaments ; Transplants